The Impact of the COVID Pandemic on STEM Professionals

Early reports indicated that the COVID 19 pandemic negatively impacted STEM professionals' research, resulting in fewer grants, patents, and publications, and disrupted student learning, especially in skills development. More concerning was the prediction that the most severe consequences would be felt by young STEM professionals, or those with family care responsibilities. In order to investigate the impact of the COVID pandemic on STEM professionals in the USA we conducted a survey. Questions included loss of research and lab time, data on papers, grants and publications, and the disruption to personal obligations and work life balance. The survey, conducted about one year into the pandemic, provided evidence that there were significant differences in productivity and responsibilities, with some differences and work load aligned with gender. Response comments reflected both negative and positive outcomes. This data is consistent with trends observed in other professional fields, as well as those reported in other nations. This poster will present the results of this research, along with outcomes from other studies. The concerns have spurred several calls to action by professional societies, government agencies and other groups. These recommendations attempt to ensure that STEM professionals can continue to progress in their careers. Strategic planning is necessary in order to ensure that the next generation of STEM researchers are properly supported in order to ensure a diverse workforce.